Buzz Off

It's July, and once again it's time for my annual Mosquito Rant.

The black flies are mostly gone, but the skeeters have really flourished in the successive weeks of warm thunderstorms. Last year they were not so bad, as I recall. I think 2004 and 2005 (see photo on the right) were the worst I've experienced yet. This year I'm to the point where I don't want to take my older son outside- even on a nice day- because it means two of us have to gear up and/or spray with something smelly and I have to physically monitor the bugs that land on the baby. Is it worth it? Well, I have a very strong belief in getting kids their outside time, and this kid is particularly fond of the outdoors, so we do it. He doesn't seem to mind the bites so much, but they bother me a lot. There's an argument to be made that, since the mosquitoes don't carry West Nile Virus or Malaria, I shouldn't worry so much. That's all well and good until the back of your calf is irrepressibly itchy to the point of near insanity.

We picked a few handfuls of raspberries today. For some reason, that's where the swarms lie in wait, so I wore rain boots, long pants, a long-sleeved work shirt well-sprayed with DEET, and my new hat. Sometimes I wear rubber gloves, too, but not today. It was sunny out and I just wasn't sure how bad they would be. Well, if there had been more berries to pick, I would have needed the gloves. I like my new hat. I picked it up at the Old Forge Hardware Store ("The Adirondacks' Most General Store") for more than I wanted to pay, but I think it will earn its keep. It's quirky, but very functional. With the net down, I feel like I might belong in a Victorian movie, but then I catch a glimpse of my reflection and am reminded that I look more dowdy than fetching. Too bad, because it's my favorite thing to wear these days. Beats a beekeeper's outfit.